Four Transistional Areas

For purposes of focusing on student needs and to clarify outcomes and expectations, the MYTI project will address four broad areas of each student’s transitional experience, starting at ten years of age and continuing past graduation up to twenty-five years old.

1. Early Transition Phase:
Beginning at age 10 and continuing through 13 years old is the Early Transition Phase, Benefits planners and the family liaison will work primarily with parents, adjusting them to the concept that government aid, in terms of SSI, Medicaid, and other supports, prepare the disabled child for eventual employment and for contributing to the Social Security trust fund, enabling the system to continue to exist. A student-directed futures plan will be developed for each participant to facilitate visions of a working life.

2. Full Transition Phase:
From age 14 to 18, the Full Transition Phase will officially be implemented. The VR Transition Project Counselor will work with teachers, the benefits specialist, job developers and job supporters through the School Transition Project Specialist in each school to provide individualized experiences in settings characteristic of occupations within the region. These will range from work experiences in the student’s early teen years to paid, part-time employment when they become legally able to work. Outcomes will be coordinated with the provisions in each student’s IEP/ITP. Collaboration with the local one-stop will assist students to pursue entrepreneurial activities of the sort that young people typically participate in. It is anticipated that a number of project students will be pursuing Mississippi’s newly implemented occupational diploma. Project personnel will also coordinate with educational staff assigned to assist students document and achieve their milestones for completing an occupational diploma.

3. Employment Transition Phase:
From ages 18 to 21 the Employment Transition Phase will occur, as students begin to spend less and less time in the education setting and participate in work training specific to their chosen employment outcome, the optimal goal being customized employment in integrated, full-time employment. The School Transition Project Specialist, VR Transition Project Counselor and the benefits specialists will work with individuals and their families during this phase of service. Services in this phase may involve waivers of Social Security benefit re-determination at age 18 or retention of Medicaid support when employed in settings that do not provide required medical assistance. Needed waivers would extend for the length of time an individual is participating in the Mississippi MYTI Project, beyond age 22, or even for as long as they are contributing to the trust fund.

4. Post Transition Phase:
A Post Transition Phase will be offered to those project participants who either graduate or leave school between the ages of 18 to 21. This group will be connected by the project’s VR Transition counselor to adult services through Mississippi Mental Health or Mental Retardation Services and through the one-stop system.